101 Freeway Crash Leaves 6 with Different Injuries

Almost every single day, hundreds of motor vehicle accidents are recorded in the State of California. These mishaps are causing the state hundreds of thousands worth of damages to property, thousands of injuries and death. These do not only affect drivers and passengers of the vehicles plying by the roads. It also involves pedestrians, innocent passersby that do not have anything to do at all with the situation.

Car Sparks Huge Accident

It only takes one irresponsible driver or a badly-maintained vehicle to spark a huge accident on the road. Especially on the freeway where motorists are travelling at high speeds, avoiding accidents are just harder than the usual. For example, one car was traveling early morning on the northbound lane of the 101 Freeway at Oak Street. Initial investigations revealed that a car collided with another vehicle. For reasons yet undisclosed, the three passengers of the car, one of which received severe, life threatening injuries were badly hurt and was rushed to the Ventura County Medical Center. Three more victims were brought to the Community Memorial Hospital in the area. Good thing, the fuel tank of the car that got semi-ruptured in the accident did not explode. Crews were able to prevent 40 gallons of fuel from entering a nearby storm drain, preventing what could have been an even more deadly accident. It took hours for CalTrans to be able to clean up and assess the condition of the road.

Avoiding Motor Vehicle Accidents

Yes, accidents happen at times when one least expects it. However, doing the necessary precautions can help a lot in helping minimize the chances of these mishaps from happening. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impaired and distracted driving remains on top of the list of reasons why motor vehicle accidents happen. The condition of the road and the vehicle also plays a huge role as to why mishaps occur.

What to Do When Accidents Strike

Your safety is the most important thing to consider. That is why you have to go and ensure your safety first above everything. Documenting pieces of evidence is also important as this would help should you decide filing a claim against the other party whom you collided. Hiring an attorney for auto accident in los angeles
to help you prepare and file a claim, and represent you in any legal proceedings can help you avenge what has happened to you, get the justice that you need, and make the negligent and irresponsible people held accountable for their actions. There might be no fool-proof way of staying away from such accidents. However, equipping yourself with the right information and tools can help you stay on top of the situation and have things working in your favor.

Determining Pain and Suffering Damages for Victims of Personal Injury

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Every personal injury victim is entitled to damages, especially if he or she sustains a significant injury that subsequently affects his or her life in general. To begin with, damages refer to the award given to him or her as a form of compensation for a certain loss. However, before a victim is entitled to such, it is important for him or her to prove that the other party negligently caused him or her that injury.

If you are a victim of a personal injury—car accident, slip and fall, and the like—caused you injuries because of someone else’s negligence, you must know that you must first establish proof in order for you to obtain compensation for the damages you incurred. For this to happen, you must hire a Los Angeles personal injury attorney who can effectively and aggressively handle your case.

For the most part, damages are usually determined in monetary value. In either a court decision or off-court settlement, the party liable for your injuries must provide you with the determined amount of compensation. While compensatory damages usually cover the injured party’s medical treatment, lost income and future earnings, there are damages that are, in essence, not quantified monetarily. Case in point: pain and suffering damages.

This form of compensatory damages refers to the overall physical and emotional trauma that a personal injury victim may have to endure after an accident. Although non-quantifiable, pain and suffering damages are determined nonetheless based on the type and nature of the injury the victim sustained in the accident, as well as the injury’s severity and the pain the victim may have to endure.

As it is, putting a value on pain and suffering is difficult. In determining the monetary value that will comprise the injured victim’s pain and suffering damages, law firms and insurance companies often consider the following:

• The occurrence of a preexisting injury that would prolong the victim’s pain;
• The victim’s tolerance to pain, whether or not he or she can endure it; and
• The victim’s ability to perform basic life activities, or lack thereof.

As a personal injury victim, having a lawyer by your side is very important, since your injury will be evaluated based on your doctor’s findings to help determine if you are entitled to receive compensation for your pain and suffering.

Mother and Two Kids Injured in Panorama City Crash; 70-year-old Driver Fled

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Anybody can (literally) drive a vehicle. Just how hard could that be? You just manipulate a few pedals, a shift stick (or a shifter for automatics), and the steering wheel and you are good to go. The real question is how many people can actually drive vehicles PROPERLY. When getting your driver’s license, you are subjected to many tests, which determine your capability in operating a vehicle while developing the right attitude for driving.

A bad case of hit-and-run

Sadly, a lot of people tend to forget these lessons that they have learned and end up figuring in accidents. What’s worse though is that some people have the audacity to leave their victims behind as if nothing has happened. In Panorama City, California, a mother and her two kids have been treated and are recovering from the injuries they sustained as they were hit by a car. According to reports filed by the authorities, a 70-year-old driver kept driving after hitting a family near Van Nuys Boulevard and Chase Street.

Manning up for one’s responsibilities

Though statistics are yet to prove this, the prevalence of hit-and-run cases reported on local media outfits is quite bothering. In almost every week, incidences where drivers are running from their responsibilities to their victims have been growing. That is why authorities are calling for more responsibility for drivers in the state. More than just being more careful when behind the wheel, people should at least be responsible enough to check on the victims should one get ever involved in an accident.

Reasons for hit-and-runs

Some lessons are learned the hard way. This is what a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer shared as he recalls experiences handling hit-and-run cases. Most of his clients relate to him how overwhelmed they are when it dawned on them the gravity of the responsibility that they will be facing because of the accident. However, this Los Angeles attorney reminded people not to be afraid and instead face their responsibilities as running away from it doesn’t solve their problems but instead worsens their situation. In the end, he reminded drivers to always be careful to avoid accidents, so they won’t ever need to face such huge responsibilities.

Can Speech-to-text Devices Save You From Crashing?

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When voice-activated functionality came out on on mobile phones like Apple’s “Siri” and Google Voice, people thought that this could actually be the end of one motorist’s driving woes. Imagine, just say what you need and what you want the phone to do and it’ll figure things out all by itself. You just need an Internet connection and a good understandable speaking and you’re all good to go. However, it seems like this new tech doesn’t work as promised.

Even more distractive

The main reason why voice to text apps was made is to eliminate distraction. Especially when driving, these apps promise to be great tools to minimize, if not completely avoid distracted driving. However, tests made by researchers from the University of Utah say that these cause even more distractions while driving. About 12 male and 20 female drivers aged 18 to 33 were equipped with sensors were given a battery of tests in vehicle simulators and real cars. These studies prove that sending text messages using a speech to text app were more distractive than just listening to the car’s radio or talking to passengers.

Consumer Electronic groups challenge the studies

An industry group, the Consumer Electronic Association has disputed the findings of the University of Utah research. According to the group, the researchers of the university have made “a number of methodology flaws” that resulted in the findings that they have. The group questions the results of the research of the popular university.

The dangers of distracted driving

In another report made a year ago, the National Safety Council said that the use of mobile phones have something to do with 24 percent of all vehicle crashes in the US. A Los Angeles attorney finds this strange since most states now have laws banning the use of mobile phones while driving a motor vehicle. Every year, thousands of Americans die because of accidents caused by distracted driving. The government, even consumer electronic groups are trying hard to do everything to come up with a solution to end distracted driving. This will prevent injuries and deaths that is caused by accidents and there would be no need for a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer to make claims for these loss of lives.

The Dangers That Come With Drunk Driving

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Drinking has many health benefits
Drinking alcohol isn’t necessarily bad. In fact regular (but moderated) intake of alcoholic drinks has health benefits that can really improve one’s overall health condition. However, too much of everything can’t be good for you. High alcohol levels can get one drunk, make them lose their inhibitions and at times, make them do things that they’d regret later on.

Drunk Driving is bad.
Because it can make someone lose his or her concentration, drinking and driving are some things that don’t really get along well. It does not matter if one person has a strong sense of control; alcohol will still have an effect to one’s driving. You lose your reflexes, and your senses don’t seem as sharp as when you are sober. This makes you unable to react quickly to various hazards that come your way. Moreover, one becomes more daring when they are drunk, leading to irresponsible maneuvers and ultimately, accidents. According to a group of Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, drunk driving has been the cause of thousands of recorded road accidents in the country. These have caused thousands of injuries and deaths every year.

An accident caused by drinking
One Sunday morning, an accident happened that got eight injured people rushed to the hospital for treatment. According to police reports, an alleged drunk driver rammed the vehicle that he or she was driving on two cars that were on an intersection, waiting for their time to pass. The impact caused a multi-vehicle collision causing the damage to the cars and injuries to the victims.

Government efforts to stop drunk driving
Given the extent of the accidents caused by these incidents of drunk driving, the government has been doing their best, coming up with new programs to help make people realize further the bad effects of drunk driving. Also DUI checkpoints are done every now and then to apprehend drunk drivers. These along with the implementation of anti-drunk driving laws are some of the measures being taken by the government to help prevent, if not stop DUI accidents from happening.

As a driver, you are given a great responsibility of being control a victim. As this is more of a privilege than a right, you should be responsible when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle and try to put safety on top of your priorities.

Fatal Chuckwalla Valley Raceway “Recreational Ride” Kills One, and Injures Another

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Speed is fun
Driving fast is one great experience. It is both liberating and exhilarating. That is why it is understandable that while it is extremely dangerous, a lot of people are still into driving fast. Almost every car nut has this need for speed that needs to be fed. As auto experts would say, an Italian tune up, or revving and driving the car fast in certain times can help keep your vehicle running well.

Speed can kill
However, too much of everything can really get you into trouble. Almost every day, you can see news about auto accidents being reported on TV.  According to a Los Angeles car accident attorney, most of the time, the driver’s excessive speeding causes him or her to lose control of his or her vehicle, ending up in a nasty accident. Injuries from car crashes may vary. Some are lucky enough to survive without a scratch. Some, on the other hand have such a tough luck that they don’t manage to get out of these accidents alive.

Speed where it should be
Public roads are there for a reason. It accommodates road users to let people travel from one place to another. Public roads shouldn’t be used for high-speed driving. Even freeways have spit limits to keep them safe and prevent accidents from happening. If you really are into feeding your need for speed, you should bring your vehicle to a race way. Here, you can unleash your car’s full potential and enjoy high-speed runs.

Safety is more important than speed
Now even if you are driving a good performance car in a race circuit, one should not forget to keep safety in mind. Just recently, a car that was used in a recreational ride hit a concrete barrier at the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, east of Indio. The driver of the car was airlifted to a nearby hospital after suffering from major injuries because of the accident. However, the lady passenger in the car was not as fortunate and died. This is just one proof that accidents can happen even in a controlled environment. That is why, everybody should take the necessary precautions to prevent any more injuries and loss of lives due to speeding.

When the Joy in Joyrides End

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Joyrides on highways are such a great thing to do. Speed gives you that feeling of adrenaline. It gets you excited, that help you enjoy your trips better. However, in every fun activity, you should never forget that driving, just like every privilege, comes with a responsibility. That is why while operating a vehicle; one must make sure that you keep safety in mind, above anything else.

Just recently, a vehicle that was running too fast got out of control. This made the car cross the other side of the road, crashing with another car. The wrong-way driver immediately died, as well as the driver from the other vehicle. The police are still trying to investigate what the real cause of the accident was. The authorities are once again, also looking into the possibility of alcohol or drugs, causing the accident.

Alcohol is not necessarily bad, especially when taken in moderation. Oftentimes, alcohol has psychological effects that helps one enjoy better and throw their cares away. Prescription drugs have good effects too but only when taken in proper dosages. On the other hand, prohibited drugs have no positive benefits after all and could only cause health and mental problems for its users.

The government has time and again has shown the negative effects of alcohol and drug abuse. Through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as other government agencies, federal and state agencies, many programs have been launched and many operations were held, just to put a stop to irresponsible driving and prevent drunk or drugged driving. However, all of these efforts will be put into waste if the general public won’t join the government in looking for solutions.

A Los Angeles personal injury lawyers reminded the public that as a driver or operator of a vehicle, one has the responsibility to make sure that he or she will be driving safely. He has also called on victims of such accidents or their relatives to fight for their rights and file the necessary cases and claims to get those responsible liable for their actions or lack thereof. Joyrides are fun, and you can pump up the fun by injecting a little responsibility while having fun.

Some Statistics and Other Valuable Information about the Risks of Teenage Driving

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It is often said that teenagers are highly at risk of getting involved in crashes than any other age group. Fortunately enough, there are valuable statistics that back up this proof. While the same can be said for other age groups, the risks of injuries and deaths related to teenage driving are usually due to various factors.

Therefore, it is important for both young drivers and their parents to be as educated and aware as possible with regard to the entailed risks of teenage driving. Education and awareness are two key components in helping change the behavior towards the wheel, especially for the specific age group.

Meanwhile, here are some statistics and other valuable information about the risks of teenage driving, taken from the ImpactTeenDrivers.org:

• The leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States is due to crashes involving teen drivers. While it is a common notion that teenagers behind the wheel always take risks when it comes to driving, most of these crashes are caused by their inexperience and/or other activities that distract them from operating their vehicles.
• Young drivers account for more crashes than any other age group in the U.S. In fact, about 25 percent of deaths every year involve drivers between the ages of 16 and 24.
• The crash fatality rate is highest for drivers aged 16 to 17 years old. Said rate remains high until the age of 24.
• About 20 percent of 11th grade drivers were involved in at least one accident, according to the National Young Driver Survey. Nearly 3 percent experienced two or more crashes.

Among many things to blame for the teenage driving crashes is the technology, particularly the use of cell phones, coupled with inexperience behind the wheel. According to Thomas Milewski, manager of operations at Driver’s Ed Direct, said that teenagers today “have now a multitude of items to go to and everybody is doing it (using cell phones while driving).”

Incidentally, legal experts, including Los Angeles personal injury attorneys believe that being aware of the entailed risks of teenage driving would help younger drivers become more responsible and safer motorists.

Educating Yourself on the Perils of Distracted Driving

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Not all drivers are able to maintain their focus and attention to the road, no matter how long or short the distance of the trip is. More often than not, their one hand is on the steering wheel while the other is clutching on their cell phones, speaking with a friend or office colleague or texting a loved one.

Looking up ahead on the road and then on the phone screen and back again is just a piece of cake for those who are used to it. However, doing so puts them in danger of getting seriously injured or killed. Such is distracted driving.

To begin with, distracted driving is any activity that disrupts the attention of the driver to his or her primary task, which is, of course, driving. In other words, taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds, or even removing your hands off the steering wheel, could spell disaster not only for you, but also for your passenger/s, pedestrians, and other motorists that share the road with you.

Distractions that drivers do while behind the wheel include using mobile phones to text or call, grooming, reading, tinkering with the car stereo, and talking to passengers, among many others. Moreover, distracted driving is one of the key factors as to why accidents occur on America’s roadways.

In fact, deaths related to distracted driving increased by 1.9 percent in 2011, in which 3,331 such deaths were recorded. Injuries, however, decreased by 7 percent that same year, in which an estimated 387,000 such injuries were recorded. Said data shows how deadly getting distracted while driving can be.

Fortunately, states and other localities have made strides to end distracted driving on their roadways. In fact, many of them have passed and implemented stringent laws that prohibit texting, talking on the cell phone, and other non-driving activities while driving.

Aside from that, distracted driving-related information through websites allow people to become educated and be informed about the perils of driving distractions, which would enable them to make decisions on what they should and should not do behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Los Angeles personal Injury Lawyers and other legal experts believe that learning from distracted driving and its perilous effects to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists can help promote better and safe driving on the road.

Proposed Calif. Assembly Bill to Ban Hands-free Texting While Driving

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It is already a common knowledge among California motorists that using cell phones while driving is prohibited on the state’s roadways. According to current state laws, only adult drivers aged 18 or older are only allowed to use cell phones equipped with hands-free devices. Those under age 18 are, of course, prohibited from using such wireless devices, with or without the hands-free devices.

Similarly, every California driver knows that text messaging is not allowed as well. It is explicitly stated in the current state law that drivers are prohibited to “write, send, or read a text-based communication” using such devices as mobile phones. However, hands-free devices, as well as those equipped with voice-controlled technology, are allowed.

Such provision was first legalized in California last year, wherein the Assembly Bill 1536 was signed into law and amended section 23123.5 of the California Vehicle Code. But then, the exemption was seen as a detriment to the cause of addressing the issue of distracted driving. This is the reason why first-year Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) introduced Assembly Bill 313.

Basically, this proposed bill would delete the current exemption for voice-controlled texting devices, making it illegal while driving. According to the proposition, “there is no difference in the crash risk of hand-held or voice-operated devices.” It further added that “no study has determined that texting while driving is safe.”

Additionally, the Assemblyman’s office released a statement from Richard Harkness, a traffic safety expert. He said that the provision of allowing texting with the use of voice control and/or hands-free devices was “one of the most dangerous traffic laws I have seen in my lifetime,” referring to the AB 1536.

Aside from the Assembly Bill 313, another bill was introduced, this time in the State Senate. The Senate Bill 194, which was drafted by another first-year legislator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), would ban all wireless communication devices to the current cell phone ban for teen drivers.

For many legal experts, including Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, these proposed bills would be the next big step to finally eliminate, if not totally eradicate, the incidents of distracted driving in the State of California.

The Big Fight against DUI Preventing Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

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The responsibility that comes with driving your vehicle
Driving a vehicle entails a lot of responsibility. Most people think that they are the only ones that will be affected should an accident happen because of their recklessness. Little did they know that these mishaps can also affect the lives of others on the road.

For one, drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or any other controlled and prohibited substance has been one of the major causes of vehicular accidents in the country. In California alone, thousand of crashes happen every year that causes millions of damage to property, gets thousands of people either injured or dead.

The government’s campaign to stop DUI
That is why the government, through the Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as well as other law-enforcement agencies like the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has been doubling their efforts in try to put a stop to senseless road accidents from happening. These efforts seem to be paying off quit well.

Recent DUI apprehensions
Just recently, controversial rapper Bobby Brown has been arrested yet again and sentence to 55 days in jail and four years of summary of probation for being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. This is his latest of a series of the government’s drunk driving arrests over the years. Catching a prominent personality is one major boost in raising awareness about the government’s campaign to put a stop to drunk driving.

Brown is just one of the many celebrities that were apprehended and jailed due to driving under the influence of alcohol or any controlled or banned substances. Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and others have also been apprehended for the same offenses.

This is just the beginning
The government’s intensified campaign against drunk driving is just one of the many efforts that are put in place to help bring down the number of road accidents in the country. A Los angeles injury lawyer lauded this move by the government as he believes that by getting drunk or drugged people off the steering wheel, there would be lesser chances of accidents happening, making our roads safer for everybody. Many people and organizations are supporting this effort by the government by helping organize events to help reach out a much people as possible. This show that everybody, celebrity or not will be dealth with accordingly depending on their offenses.

New “Cool” Car Features That Would Help Elderly Drivers

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On a cultural standpoint, most cars that are perceived as being “cool” and “hip” often catch the attention of many driving enthusiasts. In fact, one can name cultural icons and personalities who are very much associated with the vehicles they drive.

One of them is Rowan Atkinson. We all have watched him in character on many TV and cartoon series, as well as movies, being the childish jester doing funny antics while occasionally driving around on his Mini with his best friend, Teddy. In real life, Atkinson, who had his own share of misfortunes (including what had happened to him recently), is well-recognized for his overwhelming passion for cars.

Sure, personalities such as him, as well as other people of the middle or high level of society, can very much afford cars that are considered “cool” in both appearance and performance. However, such vehicles don’t only catch the eye of enthusiasts, particularly the younger generation of drivers. Apparently, “cool” cars now have features that would help the elderly drive easier.

While research shows that it is more likely for elderly drivers to wear seatbelts and drive slowly but surely, aging is still a primary contributing factor as to they get involved in accidents on the road. There are certain conditions in which driving can become a bit difficult, which is why carmakers today are doing its best to design vehicles for the benefit of the elderly, especially those who are physically limited.

One of them is the push-button ignition. For some elderly drivers who can’t turn the car keys on the ignition upon the vehicle’s startup, pushing the button would do the trick. Another feature in future cars is that the car doors are wider, enough for the driver or passenger to get in or out. For those who have difficulty turning their heads, or have poor peripheral vision, vehicles with lane-assistance technology are for them.

Incidentally, every Los Angeles car accident attorney is elated with this new development in the motoring industry, as these will not only help elderly drivers operate such vehicles comfortably and easily, but would likely decrease injuries and deaths in road accidents within the age group.

ESC Saves Lives

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You have probably heard of the terminology ‘Electronic Stability Control’ fitted on modern day cars. But you are also probably asking: does it really help in making your vehicle safer? Basically, ESCs are technological gizmos that are installed in your vehicle that helps ensure your vehicle has the maximum grip at all times.

How does the ESC work?

The faster your vehicle runs, the more that it can lose that all-important grip to keep it in control at all times. When it does lose grip, your vehicle will skid and it will be harder, if not impossible, for you to steer it to wherever you want it to go.

There are a number of factors that affect the vehicle’s grip. Heavy rain and uneven roads are the usual culprits as to why vehicles lose control on the road. Furthermore, the wrong driver attitude or lack of advanced skills can make a motorist apply the right corrective action to bring back vehicle control.

This is where the ESC system kicks in. This device has computers that get vital information about your vehicle. Depending on the situation, the system automatically applies the brakes or power to the wheels with the most grip, helping you control your vehicle better. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered the deployment of this new safety feature for all light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles since September 1, 2011.

Benefits of the ESC

According to the NHTSA’s three-year study released last November 30, 2012, the agency estimated that ESC alone has saved 2,202 lives from 2008 to 2010. In the year 2008, 634 lives have been saved by this new technology. Another 705 deaths were avoided in 2009 and some 863 more in 2010. These growing number of people saved because of this new technology only prove that the device is an effective deterrent to fatal accidents.

That is why the NHTSA is strongly urging the public to consider vehicles that are fitted with this technology. Buyers can go and visit www.safercar.gov to check out vehicles from 2005 – 2010 that are fitted with ESCs. To make searching easier for consumers, they can look for individual makes and models in the abovementioned site.

ESC on all cars plying by American roads

The NHTSA published a rule in April 2007 establishing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 126, requiring automotive manufacturers to fit all passenger cars, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), vans, and pickup trucks with ESC. Additionally, the agency is now proposing a newer federal motor vehicle safety standard that will be requiring the installation of ESC on large commercial trucks, as well as large buses. This new measure aims to prevent some 56 percent of rollover crashes every year and up to around 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes.

Nothing beats good, safe driving practices

ESCs and other active and passive safety systems may help prevent or lessen the extent of injuries and damages brought about by car crashes. Incidentally, every  Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers also knows that practicing good and safe driving habits is always necessary.

Rise in Seat Belt Use: Something to be Thankful For

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Among the many blessings that we received last year, and that was the fact that seatbelt use among Americans hit record-highs, particularly during Thanksgiving weekend. According to one of the recent reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), use of seatbelts has reached an all-time high of 86 percent in 2012.

Based on the NHTSA’s yearly National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), seatbelt use has been on the rise since 1994. Just last year, the use of seatbelts in the United States was recorded at 84 percent before hitting this record-breaking milestone. In the many years of the NOPUS, the NHTSA has noticed that there has been an upward trend with the use of seat belts among vehicle occupants in the US.

Highlights of the NHTSA report

Three out of the four regions in the country saw increases in seat belt use in this latest report. Specifically, the one that enjoyed the biggest improvement is the southern region of the country, in which seat belt rose to 85 percent in 2012; a 5-percent increase from the previous year.

Meanwhile, people living in the western parts of the country still have the highest percentage of seat belt use at 94 percent, a 1-percent increase since 2011. However, the Northeast area of the United States saw no increase in the use of seat belts despite the NHTSA’s efforts in promoting them.

Additionally, seat belt use remained high in states that have primary belt laws. In these states, a law enforcement operative can issue citations to erring motorists. This is deemed more effective than requiring additional traffic violations before any form of disciplinary action can be meted to offenders.

NHTSA’s reaction

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland thanked the agency’s state and local partners for the success of its various campaigns for seat belt use. The ‘Click It or Ticket’ program has been making steady gains in belt use year after year. He added that these successes will be vital in finding more ways to come with “multi-faceted approach”; that is through the “enactment of good laws, the effective enforcement of said laws, and an effective public information drive and awareness”.

To begin with, some 32 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have passed primary laws that require the use of seat belts. On the other hand, another 17 states have come up with secondary laws. So far, the only state so far that has not enacted a primary or secondary seat belt law is New Hampshire. However, the state’s primary child passenger safety law applies to all drivers, as well as passengers under the age of 18.

So would you still risk not wearing your safety belts and be a victim of severe injuries caused by accidents? Would you still want to end up seeking the help of a Los Angeles car accident lawyers to help you seek for damages brought by these injuries? Or would you rather find something to be thankful for in the next Thanksgiving Day for staying safe by adhering to the NHTSA’s plea of simply wearing your seatbelt? Well, the choice is yours, my friend.

About Winterizing Your Car

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Winter season may be over, but it doesn’t mean you should not keep yourself well-prepared. Regardless of the weather or the climate outside, it still pays for you to keep your car in tip-top condition.

Being prepared keeps you away from accidents, but you should know that this is not a guarantee that you’ll stay mishap-free for the rest of your driving days. There is a possibility that you may get involved in one, especially if it is due to someone else’s negligence.

If that is the case, then you may want to seek the expertise of a  Los Angeles car accident attorney.

Meanwhile, here are some tips on how you can winterize your car, helping it become safer in the coldest nights of winter.

•    Prepare and keep an emergency kit. Bring with you a spare tire, bottles of engine oil, washer fluid, coolant, and anti-freeze. Put an emergency kit inside the glove compartment. Carry an ice scraper. All of these things can help you stay away from trouble when the going gets tough.
•    Make sure your car’s working well. A car in top shape helps prevent accidents from happening.
•    Replace wipers and wiper fluid. See the road ahead clearly, all the time. Make sure that the wiper mechanism works and you’ve got enough amounts of washer fluid.
•    Check the car’s defrosting and heating units. Make sure that the car’s window defroster and cabin heater in good, working condition. These help keep the windows clear from fogs and the car’s cabin warm.
•    Gas up. Keeping your fuel tank full to the brim helps prevent condensation and water inside the tank. Water in the tank and fuel lines, more than being bad for the engine, can freeze up and clog down these vital components.
•    Load up on antifreeze. This keeps the coolant from freezing that retards coolant circulation and worse, overheating. With this in your cooling system, you’re assured of perfect engine temperature and operation during the coldest of winter.
•    Check the oil and its viscosity. The right amount of oil and viscosity helps keep the engine lubricated and running well. Winter can have the oil thicken and have problems lubricating your engine. Filling up with oil with the right viscosity helps ensure optimum engine protection.
•    Check the battery. The cold winter is tough on the engine and the battery. Make sure that it is in the best condition for worry-free winter motoring.
•    Check your tires. Does it have the right tire pressure? The cold weather can cause the tire pressure to drop. Fill it up with air if needed and deflate if the pressure’s too high. The right tire pressure ensures optimum grip to avoid accidents. Given the season, you should also consider replacing all-weather tires with special winter tires for safer drives.

Slowing Down: Traffic Crashes as a Result of Weather Conditions

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Most of the time, people often point fingers at driver error as the primary reason for traffic crashes. However, there a lot more reasons as to why accidents happen on the roadways. One of them is the weather condition outside. It is not all the time drivers would operate their respective vehicles only on a bright, clear day.

As it is, weather can sometimes be unpredictable. A sunny day may later on become a cloudy one, which could likely result in a heavy downpour. Having to deal with weather, indeed, comes with certain adjustments on the part of the drivers.

How weather conditions can be a factor in traffic crashes

Rainy conditions can create a mess on highways. It is said that the first half-hour of rainfall can result in a slippery roadway. When this happens, it is expected that isolated incidents of rollovers and collisions may occur over a large area.

Once a big rainstorm comes, motorists won’t be able to make adjustments on the fly, especially if they are used to driving on a clear day. More often than not, they’ll be moving along the highway too fast, which could spell disaster.

As a rule, it is very important for them to drive carefully, with or without rain, whenever the road is slick with mud and other debris. Wet pavement basically causes the tires of cars and other vehicles to lose traction, making it difficult to apply the brakes when potential hazards present themselves on the road.

The same thing happens when the road is covered in patches of snow or ice. Motorists apparently are at risk of skidding, especially when turning a curve or going fast on a highway. Also, there is also the risk of an accident due to reduced visibility brought by fog or heavy rain.

Motorists, therefore, must be able to make quick decisions when driving under these conditions. Expert litigators such as the Los Angeles car accident lawyer advise all motorists to slow down when the road is wet and always on the lookout on some of the hazards that may suddenly appear on the road.

How the Injured Party Can Also Be Partially at Fault in an Accident

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Probably the most crucial part of any personal injury accident claim is determining fault. Usually, the one at fault for the accident is the one who is considered negligent. In tort law, a negligent person in a personal injury case must compensate the victim for the damages that he or she caused the latter. But then, in many jurisdictions, it is not always the negligent person who is to accept all the blame for a personal injury accident.

In some accident claims, there are situations in which sole liability is indeterminable. As it is, the two parties, the injured party and the defendant, may have shared the fault for a certain accident. In such circumstances, fault will be allocated between the parties involved through the state statutes of comparative and contributory negligence.

About contributory negligence

In this statute, the injured party who is found partially at fault for the accident may not be entitled to receive compensation to recover from the losses he or she incurred. The States of Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia, along with the nation’s capital, has this kind of statute.

To illustrate an example, imagine Driver A’s colliding with Driver B’s car after the former made a left turn on a dark part of the intersection. Driver A is automatically at fault because of hitting Driver B. However, the latter was found out to have not been using headlights while driving. With contributory negligence factored in, Driver B won’t be entitled to recover losses because he or she was considered partially at fault for the accident.

About comparative negligence

If contributory negligence seems to be a harsh kind of statute, comparative negligence is deemed a more proportionate one. In this statute, the injured party partially at fault for an accident may be able to recover from the damages that he or she incurred. Pure comparative negligence is one of the negligence theory’s many types.

In pure comparative negligence, the damage recovery of a person partially at fault is reduced by the percentage of his or her fault. Going back to the previous example, if Person B is determined 80 percent at fault and that the total amount of damages is $10,000.00, he or she will only receive $2,000.00. The State of California is one of the 13 states that adopt this negligence theory.

Retaining legal representation

Retaining a Los Angeles personal injury lawyers is the best thing to do if a person is injured because of someone else’s negligence. Apart from that, the expertise of the legal representative would help in determining whether the plaintiff is partially at fault for the accident as stated in the negligence statutes.

Aggressive Driving: One of the Main Causes of Vehicle Accidents in Los Angeles

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Vehicle accidents still remain to be one of the depressing problems in U.S. roadways today.  Statistics show that of the 32,367 people killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2011, some 21,253 of them were occupants of passenger cars and light trucks.

Moreover, the total fatalities in the State of California saw a 2.6 percent increase from 2010 to 2011. Some 2,720 were killed in 2010; whereas, a total of 2,791 individuals were killed the year after. The said figures only prove that vehicle accidents still needed to be addressed not only within the state, but also in the whole country as well.

One of the most typical reasons why these mishaps happen almost every day is due to drivers’ aggression while on the road. Basically, aggressive driving is any inappropriate behavior while behind the wheel that can cause an accident.

According to the Foundation for Traffic Safety of the American Automobile Association (AAA), around 56 percent of deadly crashes in the U.S. were caused by certain behaviors that are related to aggressive driving, which are the following:

•    Excessive speeding;
•    Disregard of traffic rules and regulations; and
•    Careless driving.

As it is, driving is a skill that requires two things: patience and safety. One should not be in a hurry to get to a certain destination. Moreover, without proper training and safety, driving could be a dangerous activity that could seriously injure a driver or other motorists using the road.

The lack of patience and safety in driving is what constitutes aggressive driving. Usually, it is linked to moods such as impatience, annoyance, and hostility towards someone or something. These would rub off on his or her driving, which could result in a serious or fatal accident.

Below are some of the driving-related actions that are considered aggressive driving:

•    Frequent changing of lanes
•    Frequently changing the speed of the vehicle
•    Failure to observe the right-of-way
•    Failure to use the car’s signal while making a turn

Meanwhile, a person who gets injured in a vehicle accident because of another person’s aggressive driving can obtain compensation from the damages he or she suffered. To determine the cost of damages and how much he or she is entitled to receive, he or she must seek the help of a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

Putting a Stop to Accident-induced Shock

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As the old adage goes, accidents happen. This happens in times or places that we least expect them. This is the reason why most of the time it is hard to avoid them. However, you can do anything and everything you can to avoid them.

Accidents can cause extreme shock that brings injuries to the victims. When they happen though it is important that you know what you should do.

Here are some of the things that you can do to get rid, or minimize shock after a car crash:

•    Breathe. Try to slow down your breathing. After a crash, there’s a great chance for one to hyperventilate. Hyperventilation can make you pass out. If you feel like you’re about to lose consciousness, lean your head down between your legs.
•    Drink lots of water. Stress hormones can produce toxins inside the body. Adequate fluid intake flushes these toxins out of the body.
•    Stretch out. This will relax your muscles that might get stiff due to excessive stress.
•    Take supplements. Calcium and magnesium supplements, when taken together, relax the muscles and calm your mind.
•    Let it out. Talk to a friend about what happened to you. This can help ease up emotional stress.
•    Rest. Take extra rest during the night. The more sleep you get, the more relaxing it will be for you.
•  Eat the right food. A light meal after the crash can bring your sugar levels back to normal. Recommended foods to take are bananas, yogurt, and a piece of bread.
•   Seek medical attention. No matter how light your injuries are, having your body checked up will let you know if you sustained injuries.

Following these simple tips can help you recover from the traumatic experience you’ve just been subjected to. After you have recovered though, submit yourself to the investigation that will be conducted by the authorities. You may then file a case so you can receive damages for whatever injuries you may have sustained.  A good Los Angeles car accident attorney can help ensure your victory in the case that you may have filed. Then, you can truly recover from the accident that you have been into.

The Other Driver’s Not Always the One Liable for Your Injuries

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If you are involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you must remember that understanding your rights, duties, and responsibilities as a victim is critical. As such, you must pursue a claim against the other driver whom you believe is at fault for the accident.

In most vehicle accident cases, the one who breached or violated the duty of care is the one responsible for the accident. However, if you plan to pursue a claim against the other driver, you must prove the following:

•    There exists a duty of care. Every reasonable driver makes it a point to operate the vehicle in the safest manner possible to avoid causing injuries to other people or damaging properties.
•    There was a breach of duty of care. It would technically make the other driver liable for the accident.
•    To be able to attain compensation from the driver, you must have sustained injuries as a result of the accident.

However, there are times when the other driver is not always the one liable for you injuries. In fact, someone who is not present at the scene could be the one responsible for the damages and the injuries you sustained.

You might found out in the investigation of the accident that the driver actually borrowed his or her car from someone else. Given that the owner of the car gave permission to the driver to use the car, your case won’t necessarily go up in flames. In fact, you may still file a claim, but the liability won’t be placed on the driver anymore, but on the owner of the vehicle.

One of the states that have laws regarding such circumstances is the State of California. There, if the user gets involved in an accident, the owner won’t be rendered liable for unlimited damages. It means that the driver has limited liability, depending on the result of the accident.

But if the owner permitted someone who is not licensed or is not qualified to drive, he or she may be rendered liable for unlimited damages. To know whom you can sue in case such situation arises, it is best that you hire a Los Angeles car accident attorney so that your claim gets firmly established. With an established claim, you will have better chances of getting fair amount of monetary compensation from the liable party so you could recover well from the accident.